Has Jake Long played his last game for the Dolphins?

December 3, 2012|By Omar Kelly, Sun Sentinel

Jake Long might have played his last game of the season, if not his last game for the Miami Dolphins.

Long, who is undergoing an MRI today to verify that he tore the triceps muscles in his left arm, will likely be placed on injured reserve this week if the muscle is torn, missing the final month of the season for the second straight year.

Last year Long, a former Michigan standout, tore his right biceps in a 26-10 loss to the Eagles and missed the season's final three games.

Rookie offensive tackle Jonathan Martin, a second-round pick who has started all season at right tackle, will likely replace Long as the starting left tackle for the rest of the season if he's done for the year. And it is likely that Martin's December position switch could be an audition for 2013.

Long, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who earns a base salary of $11.2 million this season and has a cap figure of $12.8 million, voided the final year of the rookie deal he received as the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft.

That move was designed to ensure Long, who earned at least $57.5 million in the last five years, would become a free agent this offseason.

Because Long's present salary is already higher than the franchise tag designation for offensive linemen ($9.7 million) the Dolphins would need to guarantee him a one-year salary that features a 20 percent pay raise to place the franchise tag on him.

That would mean his salary would be increased $2.56 million to $15.36 million if the Dolphins wanted to ensure he didn't become an unrestricted free agent.

That's an expensive price when you consider what Long's peers make at the top of the offensive tackle pay scale.

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas signed an 8-year, $92 million contract before the 2011 season. He presently sets the bar for the position. That deal contains $44 million in guaranteed money. In 2012 Thomas was paid $10.5 million. He'll earn 2013 in $10 million, 2014: $10.9 million, 2015: $8.8 million, 2016: $8.3 million, and $8.8 in 2017 and 2018.

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross signed a 6-year, $60 million contract in 2009. The deal included a $5 million signing bonus. He makes $8.5 million this season. 2013: $8.7 million, 2014: $6.7 million.

New York Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson signed an eight-year, $73.6 million contract before the 2010 season started. That deal contains $34.8 million in guaranteed money, including a $1.6 million signing bonus, a first-year roster bonus of $3.1 million, and a second-year option bonus of $3.9 million. Ferguson's base salary is $985,000, which is low because of the $9 million signing bonus payout he received this year. So he's making just shy of $10 million in 2012. He's making 2013: $7.25 million, 2014: $5.95 million, 2015: $5.95 million, 2016: $8.625 million, and in 2017 he has a base salary of $11.275 million.

Eagles offensive tackle Jason Peters signed a six-year, $60.657 million deal in 2009. That deal contains $25 million in guaranteed money, including an $11 million signing bonus. Peters makes $7.9 million this season, 2013: $10.4 million, 2014: $9.65 million.

Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams signed a six-year, $60 million contract before the 2010 season. The deal included $36.75 million in guaranteed salary. Williams made $7,852,000 in 2011 and $11 million in 2012. He's due $5 million in 2013, 2014: $7.25 million, 2015: $10.25 million.

If you examine these salaries and the framework of the contracts you should understand the going rate for an elite left tackle is $9-11 million per season.

That is why tagging Long, paying him $15 million for one season to simply prevent his from testing the market is irresponsible, which hints that Long will likely become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

That doesn't mean Long, who presently leads all offensive linemen in Pro Bowl fan votes, won't return to Miami. What it means is that the open market, which will also feature Denver left tackle Ryan Clady, will likely set his price.